Details

Ceratonurus Spiny Trilobite 80mm in overall length in the fossil matrix which is found in the 'couche rouge', Red fossil layer, as is another trilobite, the Crotalocephalus trilobite at the same location in the same red layers. This remarkably well preserved fossil arthropod displays an excellent preparation and conservation, this enables us a glimpse back in time to the Devonian era. Invertebrate arthropods, trilobites once proliferated the sea bottoms, this was around 400 million years ago. Some trilobites were free swimmers, most lived solely on the sea bottom, with appendages and spines which developed for defence, sensory or sexual dimorphism. The bottom of murky sea's could have been a very poorly lit, in the dim environment, further disturbed by the multitude of foraging marine life, which probably made spines a necessary appendage aid for trilobites to find each other or prey-food. Read our description below or to read more about the Class Trilobita, follow this link to discover another world. Discover more about the Class Trilobita, Invertebrate Notes on North West African trilobites

This very spinose Trilobite is a Ceratonurus, it is a type which is very recognisable for its spinosity. This prehistoric arthropod has numerous short spines which form a frill on the front leading edge of the librigenes (facial cheeks), The very long genal spines (Head shield spines), are widely spaced at either extremity of the cephalon (head shield) angled almost horizontally at an angle of around 75°. Two elegantly tapering backwardly curved spines emanate from the occipital ring, while long spines emanate from the 3rd, 4th and 5th pleura. The 5th pleura has the longest spines while the 6th come a close runner up the elongated and graceful pair of spines languish in inner space. The pygidium has many short spines. All these point towards a highly developed defensive or sensory system for the trilobite carapace.

A remarkable trilobite with a remarkable amount of defensive or sensory spines all extremely well exposed and in this specimen articulated in a very dramatic display. The preservation is excellent, the preparitors work a wonderful delight to behold. This is definitely one of our firm favourites and a recommended fossil trilobite specimen.

The reddish brown colour of the matrix denotes the red layer location. Our team of Moroccan fossil technicians have excavated the raw rock and have with specialist technical process's using pneumatic power tools ground the limestone away from the specimen trilobite revealing the fine and extremely delicate spines. This first hand knowledge is valuable to our team, the fossil has travelled directly from the fossil location to our store, a unique product delivery.